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READY, SET, GO December 6 2011
I spent the beginning of my weekend at a studio in DTLA for a Rick & Ray photoshoot with Garfield Adams and J. Maka El. The two artists come together on GA’s song called New Life, which drops one week from today on December 13. This time, we worked with Red Grizzly for the photos. I’ve known Khoren - one half of Red Grizzly - for about two years now. We met while on set for Bambu’s The Queen is Dead music video. We recently reconnected, caught up, and shared stories about our endeavors. It was certain that we needed to work together on something. Cue the photoshoot.
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NECESSITIES December 5 2011
This is how it looked last Friday night at Backside Echo Park for Necessities - the group art show dedicated to food and women. Additional coverage is over on the Backside blog.
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LEH GO December 3 2011
We are backing two events happening tonight in LA. In fact, the venues are just minutes apart from each other. Boom, that’s a party and an afterparty right there.
First is the SAVE SESSIONS LA concert at SIPA. In October, organizers at SESSIONS LA were informed that they would no longer receive funding for their program that promotes development and critical thinking through the process of creating music. For the last two months they have encouraged colleagues and the media to donate; LA Weekly even cosigned and urged the public to save the unique program. They now have seven days to raise $5k. Tonight, they kick off the week long effort with a concert involving Thurzday, Mystic, Jahlli, and other SESSIONS artists. It’s only 5 bucks to get in. If you can’t make it, please consider donating HERE.
After that, Rick & Ray is introducing a new night at Medusa Lounge. We’re calling this one “EYES UP”. As always, it’s free. DJs JeffCee, JustPudge, and Selecta7 are deck to provide a night of hip hop, breaks, and beats.
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AFTER HOURS December 2 2011
I went to Backside after closing time last night and found this:
Eric and Jason (Hustle Bikes) were doing serious manual labor for a new install that will launch in store very soon. They moved the music posters from one wall to the other, did some dusting, and started painting.
While they worked on that, Jojo was spinning Wu-Tang instrumentals from the Indie 100 outfit upstairs. And since I happened to be there, I was interviewed. I talked about my long relationship with Backside, CA, Rick & Ray, and my irreplaceable squad. I reminded people about the artists I push, and about LIFESWELL at the end of this month. Boom.
And then we took a break with Georgy. Sometime last year while at Agenda, I learned that Georgy was an AM skater, previously sponsored by éS Shoes and World Industries. We were walking through The Berrics section and this guy pretty much had superstar status. He is so modest about it, though. But last night, I convinced him to ditch the humility and show off for the blog. He thankfully obliged as evidenced below.
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WHY NOT? December 1 2011
I was back at my alma mater last night.
I hung out at the Marshall School of Business talking with some students about my career, how I went to SC not knowing what or who I wanted to be when I “grew up”, how CA and Rick & Ray’s inception and evolution came to be, and how every day I make sure I’ve overcome something. They in turn asked me why I left the corporate world for a passion project, why I delve into industries typically run by males, why I keep pushing independent artistry when everything is saturated by mainstream practices, and why I work for my friends. I answered most of those inquiries with a question.
Far too many people live their lives thinking what could have been. Personally or professionally, I simply can’t live like that. However foolish or painstaking an idea is, follow through, because at the end of the day, you will have tried. After all, what kind of a life is one where you don’t value your contributions to the world?
I wrapped that up, had dinner at a local favorite, and then walked through campus (which is beautiful at night). I low key miss school.
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